Mass patted him on the shoulder. “Thank you.”
Ahead, a dark mass came into view on the road, and there were stains on the concrete. Eventually they revealed themselves to be bodies rotting in the morning sun.
“Okay, stop here,” said Mass. “This is them.”
Tox slowed the bus and then stopped beside the scattered collection of bodies. Mass got Addy to help him off the bus. Smithy went after them. It was hard to tell how many bodies littered the road because they’d been blown to pieces. Arms and legs lay strewn about. Blood slicks stretched from one side of the road to the other. Whatever had happened here, it’d been brutal.
Mass stepped away from Addy, clearly wanting to do this on his own. He moved slowly towards the bodies and then knelt down beside them. “I’m sorry,” he said. “You were older and wiser, but I thought I knew best. Tell you the truth, I was never fit to lead – not when men like you were around. You were a good man, and I know you were a good father. My own father was a piece of shit – less said about him the better – but meeting you, and hearing the way you talked about your son, it gave me hope. I hope that one day there’ll be more dads like you caring about more kids like Dillon. If I hadn’t met you, I might have given up, and I regret the fact I’ll never tell you how I wish I’d had a dad like you.”
Smithy didn’t want to interrupt, but he feared that time was against them – that if they didn’t move soon, something would catch up with them. “Mass? Do you want me to start moving them onto the coach?”
He turned to Smithy and nodded. “Yeah, thanks.”
In a strangely surreal moment, the road suddenly spat at Smithy, a patch of concrete breaking apart right at his feet.
Then something struck the coach.
Smithy ducked. “Someone’s shooting at us. Fuck!”
Mass was still weak, but he managed to scramble towards the bus. Smithy stopped by the door and helped him up the steps. “Who the hell is firing at us? Is it your friends from Portsmouth?”
“No. People from Portsmouth doesn’t shoot at other people.”
Smithy ducked as another bullet hit the coach. “Then who?”
“I don’t know.” Mass climbed the steps onto the coach, then looked back at Smithy with his eyes wide. “Shit. Shit. Shit.”
“What? What is it?”
“The other men.” Mass shook his head in disgust. “Harriet told me that four of Nas’s men had left the farm to go siphon the petrol from our lorry. What the hell are they still doing here?”
Smithy ducked back on board just as Mass started yelling at Tox to get them out of there. Tox didn’t waste time and started the engine. The coach began to roll.
Demons spilled out into the road. One second the way ahead was clear. The next, a wall of rotting, rancid flesh erupted from the hedges. Where the hell had they come from?
Tox swore. “People are shooting at us and now there are demons. Grand!”
“Guess we know why those men have been stuck here,” said Mass. “Look, they’re up there on the verge. They must have been surrounded for a day at least. They’re desperate.”
Mass saw three men peeking out from between a thick hedge on the hill. They had switched from firing at the coach and were now firing at the burnt men emerging from the opposite bank. The demons were everywhere. Four dozen at least. What had suddenly brought them? Had Crimolok summoned reinforcements? Were the demons amassing again, ready to wage war a second time?
They needed to warn Portsmouth. They needed to tell them what was coming. About the giant gate.
There was a ping as another bullet hit the coach, then a second one shattered a side window. The women at the back of the bus screamed. Smithy gripped the back of Tox’s seat as he fought to keep his balance. The coach rocked back and forth as it accelerated erratically. “Why are they shooting at us?”
Tox turned the wheel hastily to the side. “Because we’re driving off with their only means of escape. Maybe if they’d asked nicely, we would’ve given them a lift.”
Demons filled the road but Tox didn’t brake. He sped up. They crashed into the first and the bus hitched up as the wheels crunched over its body. Then they hurtled into the main pack. More side windows were shattered. A primate leapt up into the broken windscreen. Smithy shot it in the head with one of the last bullets in his handgun.
The men on the hill fired at the coach again, trying to keep it from leaving. Everyone inside ducked.
The demons thinned out ahead, falling beneath the coach or leaping away before the iron chain wrapped around the front bumper seared their flesh.
“We’re getting out of here,” yelled Tox. “Hold on to your—”
Suddenly Tox slumped over the steering wheel and hissed in agony. The coach lurched to the left. Smithy saw blood coming from his hand. He’d been shot, a round taking off several fingers as they gripped the wheel.
Something exploded, and the coach lurched again, this time even more violently. Smithy tumbled into the aisle. The screeching that followed told him one of their tyres had burst, either from crushed demon bones or another shot fired by the men on the hill. Tox tried to fight the steering, but with only one hand, he didn’t have the strength. Smithy tried to get up and help, but the bus tilted and threw him back down.
Then gravity betrayed them all and the bus was spinning. Smithy was vaguely aware of branches and vines whipping at the sides of the coach, but mostly he was aware of falling. The windows shattered all at once and the coach’s interior turned sideways, and there was the sound of twisting metal and breaking glass.
Then silence.
Smithy lay still, lodged between a row of seats. He checked himself for injury. Miraculously, he didn’t seem to be hurt. But what about the others? He peered around the coach’s interior, which was partly shaded by the bushes and trees that had come through the windows like probing fingers. Several bodies moved, and the silence was broken by multiple moans. Addy was nearby, staring at Smithy like she didn’t know where she was. Her face was bleeding.
“Addy, are you okay?”
“W-We crashed.”
“We went into the ditch. I’m okay. How about you?”
She paused for a moment, probably to see if anything hurt. Then she spoke. “I’m okay.”
“Good. Can you help the women at the back? I think a couple of them might be injured.”
Addy climbed out from her seat. “I’ll go to them. You check on everybody else.”
Smithy clambered towards the front. It was disorientating with the aisle being to the side and the seats now forming the floor. He had to clamber over them like stepping stones, heading for the large square of light that must have been the windshield.
A demon leapt out at him.
“Jeez, Dave, you scared the hell out of me.”
“Our wagon died.”
Smithy laughed. “Yeah, it really did. You okay?”
David nodded.
“Okay, help me find the others.”
Mass was only a few seats away. He wasn’t in any pain, but his leg appeared to be trapped. He’d slipped into the footwell, and the seat in front had snapped free of its rivets and fallen across his knee. “I’m fine,” he kept on saying. “Check on the others. Is Tox okay?”
“I’m fine,” said Tox from somewhere up ahead. “It’s just my hand. Lost a couple of fingers.”
Mass sighed. “We’re cursed. That’s the only explanation for all this shit. We need to get everyone off this coach. Looks like we’ll be walking to Portsmouth.”
Another ping as a bullet hit some part of the coach. Smithy ducked instinctively. “No! Those dickheads are still shooting at us.”
“And they aren’t the only problem,” Tox shouted. “There’re still demons out there. I can see them coming.”
“Cursed,” said Mass. “We’re fucking cursed.”
Smithy disagreed. “When you consider how many life or death situations we’ve survived in the last twenty-four hours, I would say we’re prett
y goddamn lucky. Come on, let’s get you out of there.”
Mass shook his head. “Just get whoever you can and get out of here. Someone needs to warn Portsmouth about that gate. They need to prepare.”
“Sorry, mate, but I’m an Urban Vampire now, and I think that means not leaving a brother who needs help.”
Mass raised an eyebrow, revealing a thick pink gash that was strangely bloodless. “This is bigger than any of us. General Wickstaff needs to know what’s coming. You need to get out of here, Smithy.”
No way. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t cut and run on these people. He looked around for an answer, and he saw it smiling back at him. “Dave! Do you think you could find a big city called Portsmouth?”
He frowned as if he didn’t understand the question. “Follow signs?”
“Yes, can you do that? Portsmouth.”
“Cannot read words.”
Smithy grimaced.
“Boats,” said Mass. “Portsmouth has a dock and ferry terminals. Most of the road signs have little boats on them. He can follow the pictures.”
“Boat pictures,” said David. “Yes, can follow. Why do follow?”
Smithy put a hand on David’s shoulder and put his face closer to his. He needed to know the demon understood. “Because you need to take a message there. You need to talk to the person in charge.”
“General Wickstaff,” said Mass. “General Wickstaff.”
David pursed his lips and spoke slowly. “Wick… Staff.”
“Yes, that’s it!” said Smithy. “You need to find her and tell her all about what happened at the farm. You need to tell her about the giant gate that’s opened there.”
David nodded. “Yes. Dave tell and people ready. Ready when fighting comes.”
Mass smiled. “For a demon, you’re pretty smart, Dave. You get that message to Wickstaff and you’ll be saving a lot of lives.”
David smiled. “Want to do. Thank you.”
“Then go,” said Smithy. “And if I never see you again, I hope you’re okay. You’re a good friend.”
“Friend. Smithy’s friend.”
Smithy squeezed his shoulder. “Best friend. Now go, get out of here, Dave. Follow the boats, remember?”
David nodded. “Boat pictures. Yes. Goodbye.”
Smithy watched the little demon scurry away, dodging between the seats and exiting out of the windscreen. Then he turned to Mass. “What’s your policy on allowing demons to join the Urban Vampires?”
Mass chuckled. “I’m sure we could use a mascot.”
“Time’s run out,” shouted Tox. “Our ugly friends have arrived.”
Shadows passed over the sides of the coach, demons surrounding them. Their hisses and moans began to increase as they savoured their prey. Addy moved up to join Mass, and a moment later, Tox moved away from the front to be with them.
“Urban Vampires for life,” said Mass.
“For life,” said Tox and Addy.
“For life,” said Smithy.
Mass nodded. “Let’s kill some demons.”
14
The last week had been tense. General Thomas had kept to his word and caused no more problems at Portsmouth. His men were respectful to the local militia, and friendships were even beginning to form. It was looking, more and more, like things might just work out. Portsmouth had an army.
The only exposed thorn was the fact Wickstaff and Thomas were still yet to form an agreement on how to move forward. The last week had seen a ceasefire, not a treaty. Maddy feared his desire to lead would soon, once again, raise its ugly head.
But that wasn’t what Maddy wanted to think about right now – not while she was half-naked in Amanda’s office.
The two women hadn’t been able to keep their hands off of one another for days, and it was no doubt starting to get around that the general and her aide were seemingly closer than ever. Wickstaff had proclaimed she didn’t care, and if Maddy was honest, neither did she. Diane had found the whole thing hilarious when she’d told her. “Sleeping your way to the top, you slut,” she had said with a grin on her face. Maddy had blushed. But she only felt alive, or anything approaching happy, when she was with Amanda.
They were currently lying on the small sofa that took up one side of the office. Maddy was lying on top of Amanda, both of them topless, and she was kissing her forehead, her cheeks, her everything.
“You know,” said Amanda, “for someone who claims not to be a lesbian, you sure seem very enthusiastic about kissing me.”
Maddy grinned. “I can stop.”
“Please don’t.”
“So you never… you know… you never had feelings for another woman before either?”
“I’ve spent my career surrounded by men, but no, I haven’t. It’s rather remarkable, isn’t it.”
“It’s weird,” admitted Maddy. “I didn’t even know I was falling in love with you until…”
“Until you pounced on me in my office?”
“Yeah, that.”
Amanda lifted her head and kissed Maddy’s collarbone, which she had recently discovered she loved. “I didn’t realise it either, but this whole time you have been my rock in the ocean. You’re the only thing that keeps me from drowning.”
“You think Portsmouth is ready for this? It could be quite the scandal.”
Amanda chuckled. “It might give them something else to think about besides dying, so I say let them gossip.”
There was a knock at the door.
Maddy leapt up. “Shit, shit.”
Amanda smirked. “Calm down. It’s not like you’re going to get in trouble. You’re shagging a general.”
“I know, but I don’t have my clothes on. Damn it, where did I leave my blouse?”
“It’s under the desk. Go on, hide underneath while I see who’s at the door. It might be fun.”
Maddy rolled her eyes. “You’re terrible.” Then she scurried around to the back of the desk and crawled into the foot well. She had to cover her mouth to keep from giggling. She heard Amanda dress herself and then cross the office to the door, just as the visitor knocked again.
She heard General Thomas introduce himself and groaned. “General Wickstaff, I was wondering if we could talk.”
“Oh, um, of course, General. Right now might not be the—”
“Please, I have something I need to get off my chest.”
“Very well. Please, come in.”
“Thank you.”
Maddy saw shiny shoes clomp across the floor from the gap beneath the desk. As fun as hiding might be, Thomas was not a man who enjoyed games. She prayed he didn’t discover her hiding.
“What can I do for you, General Thomas?” Amanda asked. “Would you like a drink?”
“No, no, thank you. I just came here to apologise and ask you to accept my resignation as general.”
Amanda spluttered. “I-I’m sorry? I think I misheard you.”
General Thomas chuckled. “You didn’t. I am stepping down immediately once you accept my resignation.”
“Why?”
“Because my position in Portsmouth is untenable. My own men hail you as a hero and, quite frankly, I can’t disagree with them. The only option is me stepping down or trying to wrest power from you. I fear I would come off the worst if I were to go up against you.”
Wickstaff cleared her throat. “Is this some devilish trick? It seems very unlike you.”
“I’m tired, Amanda. I’ve been sending men to their deaths for the best part of a year. I helped liberate Asia only to have my victories claimed by the Germans. I think I came here to gain the recognition I deserve. I wanted to be the hero who rescued the United Kingdom, but I realise now that I’m not that person. You are. Whatever has happened, I have always fought for our survival as a species. My heart has always been devoted to my men, and I don’t want to risk any more lives than I need to. I’ve had my victories and now you need to gain yours. When I saw them all cheering you on the docks, I realised how old I’ve got
ten. Let me retire while I still have the respect of my men.”
Maddy had to cover her mouth to keep from gasping. This was the greatest news ever. It sounded like Thomas was not just stepping down, but stepping out. Would he spend the rest of his days with his feet up and out of the way?
Please let it be.
“I won’t force you to do this, General,” said Wickstaff. “I’m sure there’s a way we can work together.”
“Not without endangering lives, I fear. I’m not being forced to this, Amanda. It’s what I want – welcome it even. Let me be old.”
There was movement, which Maddy sensed was Amanda shaking her adversary’s hand. “I’ll keep you permanently stocked with brandy and whatever else you need.”
“Now that sounds like a victory. Thank you, Amanda. I’m just sorry we had to get here in the way we did.”
“I don’t hold grudges, General Thomas, and you will always be a valued and respected man. You have my word.”
Another knock at the door. Maddy wrapped her arms tightly around her knees, trying to make herself smaller. She had managed to get her bra on before Thomas had come inside, but she was still topless. The last thing she needed was a crowd.
It was Diane at the door, and it sounded like Tom was with her. The two of them had been working together a lot recently since Wickstaff had added the young guardsman to her personal security team. “General Wickstaff, General Thomas, I have and urgent matter to bring to you.”
“Yes,” said Amanda, “what is it?”
“We’ve captured a demon as you requested. Well, sort of.”
“What do you mean?”
“It kind of gave itself up. It says it needs to talk to you.”
“Talk to me? What on earth?”
Thomas huffed. “It’s a ploy to get close to you, surely. Diane, you’re usually very cut-throat about these things, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” said Diane. “I was about to shoot it in the face, but then it said the message was from a friend of ours. Mass.”
Wickstaff fell silent. Mass and his team hadn’t been heard from in over a week, and they never stayed out that long. Quick in and outs was how they survived. Everyone at Portsmouth had been fearing the worst. Especially since demons had now been spotted all over the place, gathering, once again, in force.
Hell on Earth- the Complete Series Box Set Page 136
